Globalisation and the poverty problem in Uganda

* Dr Nyagabyaki Bazaara, Director of the Centre for Basic Research, Kampala, Uganda.

Many practitioners and academics in Uganda believe that globalisation - a process associated with capital movements, and technological and cultural change - is inevitable and will reduce poverty in the Third World. Globalisation is presumed to be like a train that is travelling fast to its final destination, that of happiness of mankind. However, given the history of capital, one is bound to be cautious. This is because the very process that is generating unprecedented growth and prosperity is at the same time creating poverty. Using empirical data from Uganda, it will be demonstrated that the ugly side of globalisation is the emergence of new types of poverty.